The Millionaire Disguised Himself as a Poor Customer in His Own Jewelry Store… and an Employee Taught Him the Hardest Lesson of His Life
His hands were dirty with dirt.
His uniform was wrinkled.
And all because of a lie he had invented to test others.
Then he understood that his test was no longer fair.
He was cruel.
He walked over to the old car he had rented to complete his disguise, opened the door, and pretended to check under the seat.
« Here it is, » he said, holding up the wallet. « What a shame. It had fallen inside the car. »
Valeria let out a breath and laughed, tired.
—Oh, sir, I almost stuck half my face in the drain because of you.
Santiago smiled, but inside something broke.
—Let me treat you to dinner to make up for it.
« That’s not necessary, » she replied. « Just take better care of your things. »
Valeria returned to the store with her blouse stained and her head held high.
That night, in his enormous house in Lomas de Chapultepec, Santiago read Valeria Morales’ employment file.
Deceased mother.
Absent father.
University suspended due to lack of funds.
Excellent average.
No important recommendations.
No known surnames.
Without privileges.
She closed the folder in shame.
He had wanted to test if there were still good people, without knowing that he had used as an experiment a woman who had been surviving for years on the strength of her heart.
And the next day, when Valeria entered the watch shop, Fernanda was waiting for her with such a cold smile that even the manager stopped pretending not to see her.
Nobody could believe what was about to happen…
PART 2
« Look at this, » Fernanda said in front of everyone. « The official defender of the poor has arrived. Did the man on the subway propose to you yet, or did he just leave you a tip in coins? »
Mariana, another vendor, covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.
The manager said nothing.
Valeria arranged some boxes behind the counter and preferred to remain silent.
I needed that job.
She was paying for a small room in Santa María la Ribera, her overdue university tuition, and the medicines of Doña Elvira, a neighbor who had raised her as a daughter after her mother’s death.
But Fernanda didn’t want silence.
I wanted to see her break.
« Clean my display case too, » she ordered. « Yesterday you were rolling around on the sidewalk looking for trash. I’m sure you’re good at it. »
Valeria clenched her jaw.
He took the cloth.
And she cleaned.
That night, as he left, he saw Santiago leaning against a simple car.
Now he was wearing a blue shirt, his hair was styled, and he had a guilty expression that he couldn’t hide.
—Valeria.
She was surprised.
—How does he know my name?
Santiago pointed to the badge he was still wearing.
—It’s hard not to see it.
Valeria let out a small laugh.
—That’s right. I forgot to remove it.
He picked up a simple bag.
« I wanted to buy a watch for someone special, but not in a shop where they give people dirty looks for asking prices. Do you know of any more normal places? »
Valeria hesitated.
But something in Santiago’s clumsiness seemed sincere to him.
They walked to a modest watch shop near Reforma.
During the journey they talked about the traffic, the tacos de canasta, the rain that always caught the city off guard, and how expensive it was to survive in Mexico City.
In the store, Santiago chose a steel watch.
« For your girlfriend? » Valeria asked, half-jokingly.
« For a 12-year-old boy, » he replied. « He lives in a group home. It’s his birthday. »
Valeria stopped smiling.
—Do you help there?
-Sometimes.
